GATCHEL – State police have identified two bodies found inside a Gatchel-area home Monday night as a mother and son and ruled the deaths a murder-suicide.

Troopers said Franklin Anthony Kirk, 47, shot and killed his 64-year-old mother, Elaine S. Kirk, at their residence at 13340 Mason Drive. Franklin Kirk then took his own life. A handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.

Franklin and Elaine Kirk were last seen by a neighbor June 1. The investigation is continuing.

A family member discovered the bodies and ran to a neighbor’s house shortly before 7:30 p.m.

Detective Troy Fisher, Sgt. Trevor Helmer, Detective Phil Stowers, Sgt. Darrell Terrell and Trooper Koty Seifert led the investigation and were assisted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s office.

Original report posted Monday night:

GATCHEL – Perry County sheriff’s deputies and Indiana State Police are investigating the deaths of two people discovered dead Monday evening in a home near Gatchel.

The Tell City Police Department received a call at 7:26 p.m. that two people, a man and a woman, were dead inside the home. It was not immediately clear how the two people died or their relationship to one another.